DESPITE THE belated entrance of Audley Shaw in the race for the chairmanship of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) last week, Senator Bruce Golding says he is not perturbed by the move and believes delegates will push the birth of a new era come next Sunday.
"I am going into the election without any bitterness and at the end of it I am expecting to be returned as chairman," Mr. Golding told The Sunday Gleaner in an interview last week.
"The process is sort of like giving birth. I get a sense that we are moving towards closure. There is a lot of work that needs to be done," he said.
Addressing Mr. Shaw's surprise candidacy last week, Mr. Golding said, "It's a little odd because it was known for sometime that the position would have been up on the 23rd (of November), therefore one must wonder what it is that transpired between Saturday of last week and yesterday (last Thursday)."
Mr. Golding sought to downplay the effects of the open squabbles and fights which erupted among party members last week and is confident that while it was embarrassing, he does not think it will destroy the party's image.
"I think it is unfortunate. It is a democratic process that is at work. Democracy is a funny thing, it can be rough and bombastic sometimes, but as long as the will of the people prevails, that is fine," he said.
- L.B.
